Shopping in downtown Marietta an experience

November 21, 2012

Marietta is known for many things: For its history in the pioneer days, the steamboats, the Lafayette Hotel; but what some people might not know about Marietta is Restore Marietta, which is a downtown organization that promotes activities and community events which will keep the downtown thriving. It promotes Brick Street BBQ, Chocolate Walk, Moonlight Savings Sale for Christmas, Marietta Christmas Parade and Merchants and Artists Walk that happens four times a year, in June, July, August, and November. This last Friday, Nov. 9, the last Merchants and Artist Walk of the year was held downtown from 6 to 9 p.m. The downtown businesses stayed open late and invited artists and merchants to promote their home-created products.

For the first time I was able to be a consumer in the walk instead of a sales person. This allowed me to really see all the unique shops that are located downtown from: Swagg, Rossi Pasta, The Cook Shop, Putnam Chocolates, Simple Pleasures, Sudgen's Book Store, and American Flags and Poles. Each has its own products that they are known for. I have spoken with many people over the years and when they visit Marietta their number one response is "You never see a downtown that is thriving with the unique stores that Marietta has, everyone just goes to Walmart now for what they want because small business in a downtown setting are hard to find." These comments make me very happy to be a part of a town with such a rich history and thriving downtown. I was honored to bring my grandmother, Kay Herring, from Iowa on Friday to show her our downtown in action during the walk. She told me, "This walk is more than just selling the local businesses. It's really about celebrating Marietta." Next time you need to buy a gift or you want to be part of the action going on downtown come to downtown Marietta and get involved in our local small businesses.